Hazing charges to be dropped against VSU frat members

Hazing charges against eight current and former Virginia State University students will be dismissed if they help prepare and attend on-campus educational programs on hazing and fraternity pledging, Petersburg's chief prosecutor said today.

The six current and two former VSU students were charged in a January hazing incident that left a Phi Beta Sigma pledge with an open wound to his leg and an MRSA staph infection.

Petersburg Commonwealth's Attorney Cassandra S. Burns said the charges will be dismissed Dec. 18 if the eight defendants abide by certain conditions articulated today in Petersburg General District Court.

"The primary condition is that they have to prepare and help put on several presentations to several bodies of people on campus, including fraternities," Burns said. "The presentations would involve bringing professionals to talk about hazing, pledging and infectious diseases, particularly MRSA."

Two of the eight defendants -- both former students -- were originally charged with malicious wounding, a felony. But Burns said they were overcharged and she amended the counts to misdemeanors.

The charges stem from a Jan. 3, off-campus hazing incident in the city that involved members of the VSU Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma. A junior from Chesapeake was injured during the activity and contracted MRSA from an open sore. "It was a pretty bad case because it got into his blood stream," Burns said.

The MRSA virus was present during the hazing incident but authorities don't precisely know how the victim came in contact with it. "There was also another line brother who had MRSA," Burns said.

The pledge, who lived on the Ettrick campus, didn't seek treatment at the campus medical center until the week of Feb. 8.